Machine for assembling wafers.



A. BRADY.

MACHlNE FOR ASSEMBLING WAFERS. APPLICATION FILED NOV. 25. 19:3. RENEWED APR. 22,1915.

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'0 MACHINE FOR ASSEMBLING WAFERS. AP'PLICATION'FILED NOV. 25. 1913. RENEWfiD APR. 22,1910.

1 205,95]. Patented Nov. 21, 1916.

3 SHEETSSHEET 2.

.Zizzvem PATENT @EFTQE i ALEXANDER BRADY, 0F NEWTON LOWER FALLS, MASSACHUSETTS.

MACHINE FOR ASSEMBLING WAFEBS.

I Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Nov. 21, 1916.

Application filed November 25, 1913, Serial No. 802,928. Renewed April 22, 1916. Serial No. 93,621.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, ALEXANDER BRADY, of Newton Lower Falls, in the county of Middlesex and State of Massachusetts, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Machines for Assembling Wafers, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to an improvement in machines for assembling wafers, or the, like, into stacks so that they may be wrapped.

The object of the invention is to provide a machine which will quickly assemble a large number of wafers or similar articles into stacks so that they may be packed or wrapped in rolls.

With the above object in view, the invention contemplates the provision ofa smooth surface or table arranged to be moved and provided with a multiplicity of openings or holes of the required size to allow a wafer, or other article which is to be stacked, to

pass therethrough. The wafers pass through said openings and are received by a support, which is gradually lowered away from said surface as the stacks of wafers increase in height. When the stacks are of the re-.

i qmred size, the support and table are sepa-g;

rated to render the stacks accessible for con venient removal from said support.

The invention will be readily understood from an inspection of the accompanying drawings, in whichj Figure l is a plan view of the machine Fig. 2 is a sideelevation of the same; Fig. 3 is a transverse vertical section of the same Fig. l is a fragmentary sectional elevation,

fingers may be used for guiding the stacks. '?An operating handle 32 is provided whereby showing the loaded frame upon a truck, andl the chain detached from the frame; 'Fig. 5;

is a fragmentary sectional view, on an en-Q;

larged scale, showing stacks of wafers partly.

formed; and Fig. 6 is a fragmentary-bot tom plan view of the table.

As shown in the drawings, the present illustrative embodiment of the invention comprises a distributing member in the form of a table 10, which is pivotally mounted in suitable bearings in side standards 12, 14, suitably braced and secured to the floor. The top of the table is preferably formed by a sheet metal plate 16, which is flat The plate 16 is provided with. a multiplicity of openings 22 preferably arranged in rows in its flat portion, and of such size as to enable the wafers to pass freely therethrough. longitudinally and parallel to the sides 20, 21, although they may be located diagonally. The upper edges of the holes are preferably rounded and turned downward or countersunk slightly so as to present a smooth, rounded surface to the wafers as they move along the plate. The upper surface of the plate 16 may also be provided with rounded ribs 24, which extend longitudinally thereof between the rows of holes 22. These ribs form guides or barriers, which guide the wafers into the holes as they slide over the plate.

Depending from the under side of the ,flat portion of plate 16 are a series of guide strips 26, which may be held in place by screws 27 passing through said plate. These strips are provided with arcuate recesses 28 ormmg cells, which may register with the penings 22. These strips are preferably of wood for the sake of lightness, and form .iguides and lateral supports for the stacks of.

.vafers 30 during formation, as shown in lFig. In place of these strips of wood,

the table may be tilted manually, and the construction of the table is such as to enable the same to be agitated sidewise as well as tilted, to aid'in jarring the wafers over the surface of the table to expedite their entry into the holes 22.

A movable stop 34, which is slidably mounted in a support 36, is adapted to engage a cross-bar 38 on the table to hold the latter in horizontal position, when the table is being loaded with wafers, or the load of stacks is to be removed, as will be herein- These rows preferably extendafter explained. A pair of spring-pressed buffers 40, 41, slidably mounted in cylinders 42, 43, may also be provided to limit the tilting movement of the table.

The piles or stacks of wafers are formed on a support 44, which comprises longitudinally extending members or'strips 46, adapted to pass between the strips 26 depending from the table top '16. The wafers 30, after passing through the holes 22, rest upon the strips or bars 46, which are each provided on their upper sides with a longitudinally extending channel or groove .48. These grooves are to enable a finger to be inserted by the operator under the stacks when they are to be removed for wrapping.

When the assembling operation is com- .menced, the upper edges of the bars 46 are near the under side of the plate 16, being separated therefrom only the thickness of one or two wafers, then as the assembling operation progresses the frame is gradually lowered. As shown, the frame 44 is provided with angle irons 50 at each corner, which are adapted to be engaged by hooks 52. A pair of sprocket chains 54, .are provided on each side of the table, and each chain hasa hook 52 at one end thereof. The chains 54 pass over sprocket wheels 56, 57, suitably mounted on stud shafts journaled in bearings carried by the sides 20, 21, and said chains 54 also pass over sprocket wheels 62 on a shaft 64, journaled in bearings on said sides. The chains 55 pass over sprocket wheels 66, 67, the latter being mounted on a shaft 68 also journaled in suitable bearings on the sides 20, 21. Attached to the ends of the chains 54, 55, opposite to those which have the hooks 52, are counter-weights 70, 71, to counter balance the weight of the frame and its load. The shaft 64 is provided with a pair of gears 72, which mesh with corresponding gears 74 on the shaft 68, and the shaft 68 is provided with an operating handle 7 6 for raising and lowering the frame. The handle 76 is pro-. vided with a catch or pin 78, which is adapt ed to enter holes 80 in a disk 82, which is secured to the side 20 of the table, to limit the downward movement of the frame 44.

A pair of guides 84, 86 may be provided on 7 horizontal position, as shown in Fig. 2.

' therein.

Then the stop 34 and support are pulled away and the table is tilted back and forth as a unit as indicated by the dotted lines in said figure, and shaken sidewise if necessary,

or otherwise manipulated to cause the wafers to slide freely over the surface of the top. The wafers slide back :and forth over the surface of the table and enter the holes As the holes become filled, the

frame 44 is suitably lowered. This may be done by turning the handle 76, the move ment of said frame being limited by the en gagement of the pin 78 with the holes in the disk 82. When the stacks of wafers 30 have been built up to the extent desired, the machine is again locked in horizontal position and the frame 44 is lowered until it rests upon a truck 90, having rollers 92, which are adapted to travel on. a track 94; When the frame loaded with stacks of wafers rests upon the truck, the hooks ,52 are disengaged from the angle irons 50, as shown in Fig. 4. This is accomplished by means of cam arms 96, 97, mounted on shaftsj98, 99, journaled in bearings on the sides 20, 21, and having crank arms 102, 103, connected by a rod 104, so that said shafts will rotate together by means of an operating handle 106. After thehooks are disengaged from the frame, the latter is moved away on the truck 90 to a convenient position for wrapping. VVhen it is desired to" remove a stack of wafers from the frame, the forefinger may be inserted in the groove 48 under the stack and the thumb placed upon the top of thestack, so that the stack can be firmly grasped. Then the wafers may be wrapped in rolls in any desired manner. Then anew frame 18 wheeled under the table in a posi- 'tion to be engaged by the hooks and the handle 106 is turned to release the chains, whereupon the chains are wound up and the hooksengage their respective angle irons to raise the frame to the starting point, as already explained.

Although the machine is primarily intended for use with confectionery wafers, it is to be understood that its use is not limited thereto, but it may be employed for assembling other wafers, cookies, or similar articles.

The machine ispreferably operated by" hand, although it may readily be adapted for power operation.

WVhat I claim is r V 1. A machine of the character described, comprising a table arranged to be agitated and having holes adapted to allow the articles to be stacked to pass freely therethrough, a supporting member adapted to support the stacks of articles in vertical alinement below said holes,-and meansofor lowering said supporting member as the stacks build up. I p

2. A machine for assembling wafers into stacks, comprising a table arranged to be agitated, said table having a top pierced by a series of rows of holes of such size as to enable a wafer to pass freely therethrough, a series of strips extending along the under side ofsaid top and adapted to engage said wafers to formsupports for the sides of the stacks, a frame having members adapted to pass between said strips to form supports upon which said stacks are carried, and means for raising and lowering said frame.

3. A machine for assembling wafers into stacks, comprising a table having a flat apertured top which is curved upward at each end and arranged to be agitated, means under said table for supporting from underneath the stacks formed by the wafers which pass through the apertures in said top, means for laterally supporting said stacks during their formation, and means whereby said underneath supporting means may be gradually lowered as said stacks are built up.

a. A machine for assembling wafers into stacks, comprising a pivotally mounted table having a flat top which is curved upward at each end, the flat portion of said top having a plurality of rows of apertures adapted to allow wafers to pass freely therethrough, a series of stripsdepending from said top between said rows of apertures, said strips having arcuate recesses adapted to receive said wafers, a frame having members arranged to pass between said; strips to form supports upon which the stacks of wafers are carried, and means for gradually lowering said frame to enable the stacks to, build 5. A machine for assembling wafers into stacks, comprising a pivotally mounted table having apertures adapted to allow the wafers to pass therethrough, a supporting member arranged to support the stacks, a plurality of chains detachably connected to said supporting member, means for actuating said chains to enable said member to be gradually lowered as the stacks are formed, said chainsbeing arranged to be detached from said member when the latter has been lowered a predetermined distance, and means for holding said chains free from said member to allow the latter to be removed from the machine.

6. A machine for assembling wafers into stacks, comprising a pivotally mounted table having a sheet metal top provided with a plurality of rows of apertures adapted to allow wafers to pass freely therethrough, the metal at the edges of said apertures being depressed slightly below the upper surface of said plate, a series of strips depending from said plate between said rows of apertures, said strips having arcuate recesses below and concentric with said aper tures, a frame having members arranged to pass between said strips to form supports upon which the stacks of wafers are carried, and means for gradually lowering said frame to enable the stacks to build up.

7. A machine for assembling wafers into stacks, comprising a table having rows of apertures adapted to allow the wafers to passgtherethrough, a rib extending longitudinally between each pair of rows of apertures, means for supporting the wafers,

means for guiding the wafers after they pass through the apertures, and means for lowering said supporting member to enable the stacks to be built up thereon.

8. A machine for assembling wafers into stacks, comprising a table having apertures in its top and arranged to be moved to dis tribute the wafers over its surface so that they will pass through said apertures, means under said table for guiding the wafers after they pass through said aper tures, means for supporting said wafers in stacks between said guiding means, and means for lowering said supporting means as the stacks are built up.

9.A machine of the character described, comprising a distributing member arranged to swing on a transverse axis and provided with a plurality of rows of holes, and a supporting member arranged to swing with said 85 distributing member and adapted to support the stacks formed by the articles passed through said holes. l

10. A machine of the character described, comprising a distributing member arranged to swing on a transverse axis and provided with a plurality of rows of holes, a supporting member arranged to swing with said distributingmember' and adapted to sup port th stacks formed by the articles passed through said holes, and means for lowering said supporting member as the stacks build u 11. A machine far assembling wafers into stacks, comprising atable having a flat apertured top and arranged-to swing on a horizontal axis, means for supporting from underneath the stacks formed by the wafers which pass through the apertures in said top, and means for laterally supporting said stacks during their vformation.

12. A machine for assembling wafers into stacks, comprising a table having a flat apertured top and arranged to swing on a horizontal axis, means for supporting from underneath the stacks formed by the waters which pass through the apertures in said top, means a for laterally supporting said stacksduring formation, and means whereby said underneathsupporting means may be gradually lowered as the stacks are built for supporting the wafers in stacks, and

means for lowering said supporting means as the stacks are built up.

let, A machine for assembling wafers into stacks, comprising a table having apertures in its top and arranged to be moved to distribute the wafers over its surface so that they will passthrough said apertures, guiding means depending from the under side of the table top, and bars arranged to pass between said'guiding means for supporting thewafers in stacks.

15. A machine for. assembling wafers into stacks, comprising a table having apertures to allow Wafers to pass therethrough, the

metal atthe edges of said apertures being depressed slightly below the uppersurface ofsaid plate, and means for guiding and supporting said wafers below said apertures in stack formation.

17'. A machine for-stacking wafers, comprising a distributing member having a plurality of parallel rows of holes therein adapted to allow the'wafers to pass therethrough, a rib extending between each pair of rows above theupper surface of said member, and means for supporting the wafers after they have passed through said apertures.

18. A machine for stacking wafers, comprising a table having rows of apertures adapted to allow the wafers to pass therethrough, means for guiding the wafers and laterally supporting the. stacks, a frame havilng members arranged to carry the stacks,

and means for gradually lowering the frame to enable the stacks to build up.

19. A machine for stacking wafers, comprising atable having rows of apertures adapted to allow wafers to pass therethrough, means for guiding the wafers and laterally supportingthe stacks, a frame having members arranged to carry the stacks, and means for gradually lowering the frame to enable the stacks to build up, said frame being arranged to be detached and removed from'the machine.

20. A machine for stacking wafers, comprising a distributing member having apertures adapted to allow wafers to pass therethrough, and means for supporting the wafers in stacks after they pass through said apertures, said supporting means having grooves on their upper sides extending under said stacks, for the'purpose setforth.

21'. A machine for arranging wafers or other articles in stacks comprising a table for receiving arsupply ofwafers and having a multiplicity of" openings therein,

levee means containing a multiplicity of stack forming c'ells registering with said openings, and means to support the stacks in said cells, progressively movable to increase the height of the stacks, said parts being bodily movable as a unit to distribute the wafers through said apertures int-osaid cells.

22'. A machine for arranging wafers or other articles instacks' comprising a table for receiving a supply of wafersand having a multiplicity of openings therein, means containing-a multiplicity of stackforming cells registering with said openings, and means to support the stacks in said cells progressively movable to increase the height of the stacks, said: table and supporting means being separable to expose said stacks.

23. A machine for arranging wafers or other articles in stacks comprising a table for receiving a supply of wafers and having a multiplicity of openings therein, and supporting meansbeneath said table, said table and supportingmeans being bodily movable as a unit to distribute the wafers through said apertures to said supporting means.

24. A machine for arranging wafers or other articles infstacks comprising a table for receiving a supply of wafers and having a multiplicity of openings therein and a support beneath said openings, and means to bodily manipulate said table and support as a unit to distribute said wafers through said openings-and stack the same on said support, said table and support being relatively movable to expose said stacks."

25. A machine for arranging. wafers or other articles in stacks comprising a 'tablc for receiving a supply of wafers andhaving a multiplicity of openings therein, means containlng a -multipllcity of stack'form1ng cells registering with said openings, and supporting means progressively movable to increase the effective depth of said cells.

26. A machine for arranging wafers or other articles in stackscomprising a table,

10for receiving a supply of wafers and having a multiplicity of'openings 22 therein, means 26, 28' containing a multiplicity of stack-forming cells registering with said openings, and'a carriere l having elements 4L6 correspondingto said cells and-progressively movable to increase the effective depth of said cells, said parts being bodily'movable as a unit to distribute the wafers to said apertures and stack the same on'said' elements, said table andcarrier being relatively movable to expose sald stacks.

27. A machine for arranging wafers or other articles in stacks comprising a table for receiving a supply of wafers'and having a multiplicity of openings therein, means containing] a multiplicity of stackforming cells'registering with said openings, meansto support the stacks in said cells, means to manipulate said parts as a In testimony whereof I have afiixed my unit to distribute said Wafers to said opensignature in the presence of tWo Witnesses.

ings and stack the same in said cells, and ALEXANDER BRADY. means progressively to move said support- Witnesses:

5 ing means away from said table to increase Gnosvnnon CALKINS, the height of the stacks in said cells. WILLIAM J. SPERL.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents, Washington, D. 0.

It is hereby certified that in Letters Patent No. 1,205,951, granted November 21, 1916; upon the application of Alexander Brady, of Newton Lower Falls, Massachusetts, for an improvement in Machines for Assembling Wafers, errors appear in the printed specification requiring correction as follows; Page 2, line 57, strike oiit the words and support are and insert the Word "is; saine page, line 58, strike out the Word is and insert the words and support are; and that the said Letters Patent should be read with these corrections therein that the same may conform to the record of the case in the Patent Oflice.

Signed and sealed this 6th day of February, A. 1)., 1917.

[SEAL] R. F. WHITEHEAD,

Acting Commissioner of Patents. Cl. 107-45. 

